The Southwest Division includes the states of California, Nevada and Arizona. The Division shares responsibilities with the Northwest Division relative to the work within the Pacific Fisheries Management Council and the management of Pacific groundfish commercial fishing initiatives. It is also heavily engaged in the protection of salmonids, focusing significant resources on the management of habitat and water-related activities that influence the survival of salmon species.
The Division has enforcement responsibilities over four sanctuaries: Monterey Bay, Gulf of the Farallones, Cordell Bank and Channel Islands. Marine mammal-related enforcement issues are one of many significant issues in the region, as seals, sea lions and dolphins interact frequently with both commercial and recreational fishers and users. The Division partners with the state of California under the Cooperative Enforcement Program. Recreational fishing also commands the attention of the Southwest Division's efforts on a regular basis.
The Division's international enforcement interventions include ongoing work in partnership with Mexico and controls involving extensive importation of fisheries products. Agents also investigate smuggling cases involving fish and wildlife that are imported into the three states either through the air/seaports and/or by being trucked across at the Arizona or Mexican borders. The Southwest Division also is responsible for investigating suspected imports of all frozen and processed tuna products nationwide that claim they are "dolphin-safe."
Southwest Division personnel also are members of the International Monitoring Control and Surveillance Network, an arrangement of national organizations/institutions in charge of fisheries-related MCS activities, which have been authorized by their countries, to coordinate and cooperate in order to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Southwest Division personnel provide training and coordinate information in efforts to combat IUU fishing worldwide.
